TOURISTS AND FOOD SHORTAGE
Sm,—A curious diversity in policy is developing between the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Food. The former is trying to foster the idea that England is potentially admirably suited to carry on a large tourist busi- ness. On the other hand the Ministry of Food is continually inferring that the catering trade (on which any future tourist industry must be based) is composed of very doubtful and incompetent people who, far from under- standing their business, misuse food and profiteer. The very small part of the industry that consists of expensive restaurants and luxury hotels receives much publicity. The major part of the industry, however, is in the provinces, and. countryside catering for the general, public at popular prices, and it cannot be too strongly emphasised that any fresh restriction on caterers in the service of meals is simply a further restriction on the consumer. Recent pronouncements by the Ministry of Food leave one on the horns of a dilemma. Which is right? To provide the customer with the minimum of food for his money or by the use of intelligence in planning menus and cooking to give the best possible meal under existing restrictions. The attitude of the Ministry of Food is a direct encouragement to the mean and lazy, and as usual it is the unfortunate consumer who will suffer.—Yours, &c.,. SYLVIA GRAY.
Bay Tree Hotel, Burford, Oxford.
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